Boat propulsion device



May 7, 1968 J. o. HAYNES 3,381,757

BOAT PROPULSION DEVICE Filed Jan. 5. 1967 lo' 44 INVENTOR.

JUDSON ORIE HAYNES AT T YS.

United States Patent 3,381,757 BUAT PROPULSION DEVICE Judson OrieHaynes, 392 N. Monroe Road, Tailmadge, Ohio 44278 Filed Jan. 5, 1967,Ser. No. 607,442 2 Claims. (Cl. 170145) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apaddle Wheel apparatus for propelling a boat through water where theindividual paddles of the paddle wheel or drum move substantiallyradially inwardly and outwardly of the paddle Wheel as it rotateswhereby the paddles extend outwardly substantially their full lengthfrom the paddle wheel as they drive through the water but are slidinwardly into the wheel as they rotate. The paddles are journalled to afixed shaft mounted eccentrically within the paddle wheel and extendthrough axially directed slots in the body of the paddle wheel.

This invention relates to a propulsion device for a boat or the like,the propulsion device being basically of the paddle wheel type. Thenovel feature of the propulsion device is that the individual paddles ofthe paddle wheel are not mounted to the body of the paddle wheel itself,but instead are journalled on a fixed shaft which is eccentricallymounted within the body of the paddle wheel.

Each of the separate paddles or paddle means extend through a respectiveaxially directed slot in the body of the paddle wheel so that as thebody rotates, the paddle means are caused to be slid radially outwardlyof their respective slots as they rotate and drive through the water andradially inwardly of their respective slot to withdraw into the body ofthe paddle as they rotate.

Such a feature of the paddle means being caused to he slid almost theirfull length in and out of their respective slots as the paddle wheelrotates efficiently cleans the paddle wheel as it operates so that thepropulsion device of the invention is particularly adapted for boats tobe used in marshy or swamp areas.

For a better understanding of the propulsion device of the invention,reference should be had to the accompanyin g drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partially broken-away, front elevation of a preferredembodiment of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, end elevation, with parts shown in crosssection, of the paddle Wheel of the propulsion device, particularlyillustrating the fixed shaft eccentrically mounted within the body ofthe paddle wheel and the paddle means journalled to the fixed shaftextending through respective slots in the body of the paddle wheel;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the fixed shaft, particularlyillustrating the manner in which the individual paddle means arejournalled on the fixed shaft; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation, similar to FIG. 1, illustrating anotherembodiment of the apparatus of the invention.

Now referring to the drawings in greater detail, and with particularreference to FIG. 1, the numeral generally illustrates the propulsiondevice of the invention. The propulsion device may be used to drive avariety of articles, but it is particularly adapted to drive a boat 12,for example, in marshy or swamp areas.

The propulsion device 10 consists of a pair of supports 14 which usuallyextend downwardly and rearwardly from the boat and which are secured asby bolts 16 to a part of the boat 12. Both of the supports 14 areprovided with a suitable end block portion 14a and a hollow drum onsleeve 18 extends between the end block portions 14a of the supports 14and is journalled thereto by suitable bearings 20. As will be explainedin greater detail hereinafter, the sleeve or drum 18 serves as the bodyof the paddle wheel utilized in the propulsion device of the invention.

As is best illustrated by FIG. 2, the sleeve 18 which serves as the bodyof the paddle wheel is hollow and it is provided with an annular gearwheel or gear means 22 about its peripheral surface :at about the centerportion thereof. The gear wheel or gear means 22 may be cut or suitablyformed in the drum 18 on its peripheral surface. A suitable motor 24 issecured to the stern of the boat 12 and suitable means such as a wormgear 26 is provided to engage the wheel gear 22 for drive by drive shaft28 of the motor 24. In this manner, actuation of motor 24 to rotatedrive shaft 28 and worm gear 26 effects a rotation and drive of thesleeve 18.

Also extending between the end block portions 14a and being mounted insubstantially fixed relationship thereto is a shaft 30. As is bestillustrated by FIG. 2, fixed shaft 30 extends through sleeve 18 and ismounted to end block portions 14a in eccentrical relationship with thesleeve 18. As is best illustrated by FIG. 3, a plurality of paddles orpaddle means 32 are separately and individually journalled to the fixedshaft 30. Each of the paddle means 32 is provided with at least onepaddle bearing 34 which secures its respective paddle means 32 to theshaft 30 but yet permits the paddle means 32 to rotate about the fixedshaft 30. As is best illustrated by FIG. 2, each of the paddle means 32extend generally radially from the fixed shaft 30 and extend through arespective axially directed slot 36 provided in the periphery of thesleeve 18.

Due to the fact that each of the paddle means 32 extends through arespective slot 36 in the sleeve 18, the paddle means are caused to berotated with the sleeve 18 as it is driven by motor 24. But, as can beseen by FIG. 2, the fact that the paddle means 32 are journalled tofixed shaft 30 which is eccentrically mounted within the sleeve 18causes the paddle means 32 to move substantially inwardly or outwardlyin their respective slots 36 as the sleeve 18 is driven. For example,referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that as the sleeve 18 is rotated,the paddle means passing through the uppermost portion of the arc, forexample, paddle means 32a, is moved radially inwardly in its respectiveslot 36 until only a small portion, if any, of the paddle means 32aextends above the peripheral surface of the sleeve 18. Similarly, as thepaddle means 32 rotate through the bottommost portion of their arc, as,for example, paddle means 3212-, the paddle means extend substantiallytheir entire length out Of respective slots 36. As the paddle means 32pass between the extreme position indicated by paddles 32a and 32b, theytake the positions indicated by paddle 32c and 32d wherein paddle means320, for example, begins to move and/or slide radially outwardly of itsrespective slot 36 on its way toward occupying the fully extendedposition indicated by paddle means 32b. Paddle means 32d, contrarily,begins to move radially inwardly of its respective slot on its way tooccupying the fully withdrawn position indicated by paddle means 32a.

As is illustrated by FIG. 2, it is seen that the arcuate distancebetween the adjacent paddle means 32 does not remain constant as thesleeve 18 is rotated through one revolution. For example, referring toFIG. 2, the arcuate distance between paddle means 32a and 320 willchange considerably as paddle means 320 is rotated to occupy the fullyextended position indicated by paddle means 32b. The separate paddlebearings 34 of each paddle means 32 allows such independent movement androtation of the paddle means with relation to each other.

As indicated diagrammatically by FIG. 2, the lower portion of the sleeve18 which forms the body of the paddle wheel of the propulsion deviceextends down into water 40 as the propulsion device of the inventionactually operates. It thus can be easily seen that as the paddle meansare rotated through the water 40 they are in their fully extendedposition to achieve maximum drive, but wherein as they are rotated abovethe water they are withdrawn almost fully into the sleeve 18. Thepurpose of such a novel arrangement is to provide for a self-cleaning ofthe paddle means 32 so that if the paddle means 32 pick up any Weeds asthey drive through the water 40, such weeds will be cleaned off of thepaddle means as they are withdrawn into the sleeve 18. Suchself-cleaning action readily adapts the propulsion device of theinvention for boats used in swamp or marsh areas.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modification of the propulsion device indicated byFIG. 1 wherein a slightly different paddle wheel is utilized along witha different drive means therefor. Referring to FIG. 4, boat propulsiondevice a is secured to a boat 12a. Similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1,the boat propulsion device is comprised of a pair of supports 14b whichare secured to and extend in a rearwardly direction from part, probablythe stern, of the boat 12a. Iournalled to the supports 14b is a hollowsleeve 18a which is adapted to be driven by a motor 24a, usually securedto the stern of the boat 12a. A pair of drive shafts 28a from the motor24a drive a pair of beveled gear assemblies 42 which include a shaft 28bextending down through the supports 14b to engage with and drive sleeve18a by pinion and ring gear means 39.

In this embodiment, a fixed shaft 30a is mounted to the supports 14b isan eccentrical relationship with the sleeve 18a. The shaft 30a has apair of paddle means 44 independently and separately journalled thereto,which paddle means extend through respective slots 36a in the sleeve18a. In a manner similar to the manner hereinbefore described, rotationof the sleeve 18a by motor 24a causes paddle means 44 to be movedradially outwardly of their respective slots to a fully extendedposition as they pass through. the water, and to move radially inwardlyto a fully withdrawn position as they pass above the water.

It should be noted that in the embodiments illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 4,respectively, the fixed shafts 30 and 30a are secured to a suitableplate and 50a, respectively, which are adjustably mounted to thesupports 14 and 14b by suitable bolts 52 and 52a which extend throughslots (not shown) in supports 14 and 14b, respectively. Such anarrangement allows the position of the fixed shafts 30 and 30a to beadjusted so that the eccentrical relationship between fixed shaft 30 andthe sleeve 18, and fixed shaft 30a and sleeve 18a can be selectivelycontrolled.

While in accordance with the patent statutes only one best knownembodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described indetail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto or thereby, but that the inventive scope is defined inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A propulsion device for a boat comprising a pair of spaced-apartsupports secured to the boat, and connected by horizontally extendingmember attached to the upper end of the supports, a hollow sleeveextending between said supports, means for rotatably supporting saidsleeve in said supports, said sleeve having a plurality of peripherallyand axially extending slots therein, a fixed shaft extending within thesleeve, means secured to each of the supports for receiving the freeends of the shaft, said means consisting each of a plate adjustablypositionable in the aforesaid supports to vary the eccentricalrelationship between the fixed shaft and the sleeve in a verticaldirection and radially of the sleeve, a motor carried by thehorizontally extending member at the center thereof, means connectingsaid motor to the sleeve to cause rotation thereof, and a plurality ofpaddles journalled for rotation on said fixed shaft, each of the paddlesextending through a slot in the sleeve, whereby rotation of the sleeveeffects rotation of the paddles, the connecting means between the motorand the sleeve consisting of a ring gear secured to the sleeve on theouter periphery thereof and medially of the end faces thereof, and drivemeans driven by the motor and meshing with said ring gear.

2. A propulsion device for a boat comprising a pair of spaced-apartsupports adapted to be secured to the boat to provide verticallyextending sections, a hollow sleeve extending between said supports,means for rotatably supporting said sleeve on said supports, said sleevehaving a plurality of axially extending slots therein extendingsubstantially the length thereof, a fixed shaft extending within thesleeve, means secured to said sections of each of the supports forreceiving the free ends of the shaft, said means consisting essentiallyeach of a plate vertically adjustably positionable in the aforesaidsupports to vary the eccentrical relationship between the fixed shaftand the sleeve in a vertical direction and radially of the sleeve, meansto secure said plates in fixed positions on said sections, the boatbeing adapted to position a motor thereon, a means for connecting a saidmotor to the sleeve to cause rotation thereof, and a plurality ofpaddles journalled for rotation on said fixed shaft, each of the paddlesextending through a slot in the sleeve, whereby rotation of the sleeveeffects rotation of the paddles, the means for connecting the motor andthe sleeve including a ring gear operably secured to the sleeve, anddrive means drivable by the motor and engaging said ring gear.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,023 3/1841 Hobday et al l144350,257 10/1886 Lay -145 858,215 6/1907 Robinson et al. 170-4452,041,103 5/1936. Zegers 170-l45 EVERETTE A. POWELL, JR., PrimaryExaminer.

